Well, I just dropped $500 at NewEgg for new computer parts. My motherboard and probably my video card are both fried. So I’ve jury-rigged my sister’s notebook so that I can at least do a little writing. It’s weird to be writing this at someplace other than my desk. And this screen is too small! If you’re waiting for an e-mail for me, you better write me again because I don’t have access to my address book.
Ugh. I’m not feeling very inspired right now. Maybe later.
My computer is in the shop as I type this. If I’m lucky, I’ll get it back tonight or tomorrow. Must…fight…withdrawal. Shaking…uncontrollably. To make matters worse, my cable connection was down last night and I was forced to connect to the Internet on a dial-up connection on my sister’s notebook. Oh, the horror!
If there’s anyone in the Twin Cities who can provide me with some low-cost computer repair, I’d really appreciate it. For some strange reason, my system crashed overnight and now it won’t even boot. Help!
I have a new mission in life. I need to find a way to get to know my Extremely Cute Neighbor. I thought Extremely Cute Neighbor had moved out because I hadn’t seen her in some time, but then I ran into her as I was leaving for work this morning. She is a simply lovely brunette. Maybe I can borrow a cup of sugar or something. But that might not work if she stumbles across this blog and discovers that my crippled ass don’t cook…or bake. I could try chatting her up in the elevator, but how much chatting can you do on a thirty-second elevator ride? My engaging personality needs at least a full minute to work its mojo. What to do? Any advice is welcome.
I spent way too much time today clearing up a bureaucratic snafu that almost prevented my independent nursing staff from getting their first paychecks, which would have been rather embarrassing for me. I’m pretty protective of my staff and I’d hate to see any of them suffer financially because someone forgot to fax a certain document. So here’s hoping I finally have all the bugs worked out of the system.
My video card, along with my motherboard and processor, is due for an upgrade soon. My current equipment is nearing two years of use and I employ a Two-Year Rule of Obsolescence for this kind of stuff. So I was pleased to see that ATI is releasing the All-in-Wonder 9600 Pro. This card should let me record and burn television programs to disc so that I can send them to my brother while he is in Europe. Notice how I resort to altruism to justify my hardware purchases. Sad, really.
The Guardian has an interesting article written by a psychologist that analyzes President Bush’s behavior, with particular emphasis on his authoritarian tendencies. Nothing the author says really surprises me, but draw your own conclusions.
Another day, another potential Earth-killer asteroid. This one doesn’t look like it’s all that (as the kids say), but I’m curious to see how our leaders would cope when confronted with a real threat. Would it be more efficient to destroy the offending rock or nudge it off course? Any amateur scientists have an opinion?
I woke up this morning feeling feverish and a little nauseous. I don’t think think m coming down with anything, but I kind of wasted the whole day away because I didn’t feel like doing much, not even write. Feeling better now and I should be back at work tomorrow.
Someone e-mailed me and asked me what I thought of the MDA Telethon, which just ended a few hours ago. To be honest, I try not to give it much thought. Believe it or not, I was dragged out on display for a couple telethons back when I was a kid. I remember being kissed on the cheek by a cute local news personality and thinking that I was the shit. But by the time I was a teenager I realized how exploitative Jerry Lewis and the MDA really is. Every year they bring out some cute kid who is nothing more than a tool used to play on Joe and Jane Schmoe’s pity for the poor crippled children. Even the local newspaper gets invited to the pity party; just look at this article that appeared in today’s Minneapolis paper. I understand that pity is a natural reaction upon seeing someone with a disability, but it is a reaction borne out of ignorance and a reluctance to understand what a person with a disability really experiences on a daily basis. I don’t need pity. Mr. Lewis has said that if people like me don’t want pity, we should stay home. The idiocy of this statement just reflects the arrogance and condescension inherent in the whole telethon culture. And I’m suspicious about where all that money goes. Private charities have their place, but I’d prefer that everyone pay fifty more dollars in taxes a year to ensure that everyone with a disability has access to the services they need without feeling compelled to kiss the ass of some has-been actor with a Messiah complex.
Aren’t you glad you asked?
For a while, it seemed that Minnesota had bred an honest-to-goodness computer super criminal. Alas, it turns out that Jeffrey Parson is just another script kiddie. How disappointing. We Midwesterners just aren’t very creative, I guess.
I’ve been on vacation all week and still have one more day because Monday is Labor Day. It’s strange how the days seem to jumble together when you’re not on your normal schedule. I woke up this morning not exactly sure what day it was. I remember feeling the same way a few years ago when I was unemployed for about a month. But I’m ready to get back to work and I’m also ready for autumn. I really enjoy summer, but in autumn life seems to quicken and everything just feels crisp and cool. It’s like watching a film come out of slow motion and resume its regular pace.
And now I think I’ll resume my game of Civ 3. I’m playing as the French and before I’m done, by God, everyone from Alaska to Azerbaijan will be eating croissants and laughing their asses off at Jerry Lewis films.
Busy helping my sister troubleshoot her wireless laptop connection. Something funky is going on between her wireless card and my router. Ah, the joys of being an unpaid computer technician.
Someone posted a comment asking about my keyboard software. Here’s the website. I’ve tried a few on-screen keyboards and WiViK is by far the best.
I have a friend who lives near the Adirondacks, so he should appreciate these pictures. Courtesy of MetaFilter.
I watched some of the VMAs last night. Yawn. If the highlight is Britney and Xtina getting kissed by Madonna, you know it was a snoozer. Pop music is long overdue for someone or something to come along and give it a hard kick in the ass. And it sure as hell ain’t gonna be Justin Timberlake.
I’ve used this metaphor before, but corporate America is turning us all into denizens of a Kafka novel. Read this article written by a guy who bought a Dell notebook. I probably wouldn’t have sent it back, but his point is a good one.
After a brief break while my brother was here, I’ve been trying to get back on my regular writing schedule. My comic book script is coming along well. And the book is making slow but steady progress. I really can’t imagine what I would do without my HeadMaster and keyboard software. When I was in high school and college, I dictated just about everything that I needed to write down. That’s fine for writing papers, but I find that dictating fiction, or even something like this blog, can be awkward. If I was forced to do my creative writing through dictation, I think I would be constantly censoring myself or watching for some kind of reaction from the person doing the transcription. This way, I can keep my insecurities just between me and all of you.
My brother left earlier today. I think he enjoyed himself. He went to the fair with me and indulged in beer, cheese curds, a deep fried candy bar, and part of my hot fudge sundae. I really do need to get my hands on a digicam so I can document these events. The Fair is about as Minnesota as you can get. And now I have a couple days of solitude before my sister moves in for a few weeks. Welcome to Mark’s Boarding House. Dinner is whenever you want because my crippled ass don’t cook.